Suspension means for baby carriages and the like



y 29, 1952 s. B. HENDRICKSON 2,605,098

- SUSPENSION MEANS FOR BABY CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 15, 1946 V2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 y 29, 1 s. BRHENDRICKSON 2,605,098

SUSPENSION MEANS FOR BABY CAR RIAGES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 15, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 g 27 17 Z2 4 Z 1565???? SmvnaBJ-Erzdrcksm Patented July 29, 1952 SUSPENSION MEANS FOR BABY CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE Severine B. Hendrickson, TempletomMass as-v signor to Heywood-Wakefield Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 13, 1946, Serial No. 716,060

' 3 Claims. (01. 267-) .v 1 This invention relates in general to suspension means for the running gear of a baby carriage. More specifically, the present invention relates to' an improved baby carriage wheel suspension means which will effect, in a more simple and inexpensive manner, a knee-action mounting for each of the four wheels of the carriage, and at the same-time a'floating and self-leveling action for both front and rear axles.

With the above and other objects in view as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the "device's, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention fromwhich the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.'

I In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional view showing one side of a baby carriage running gear and spring suspension in accordance with the invention, the section being in a vertical plane transverse to the vehicle axles. I

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional view showing one side of a second form of baby carriage running gear in accordance with the invention, the section be- In the past, it has been the usual practice to support the springs I! directly onthe axles I0 and II, and at each point of support to rivet or otherwise rigidly connect the parts together,

. whereby the springs I! serve, through their intermediate fiat portion-s I8to hold the two axles'par- *allel to each other and in properly spaced relation. It is to be understood that in such a :con-

- ventional spring suspension, the only spring action obtained is that provided by the curved'end portion-s I9, I9 of the springs; such a spring suspensionwith its rivet connection of springs II,

I1 to the axles Ill and II is without powerto cushion in any way the shocks imparted to the running gear itself, in the passage of the wheels I2 and I3 over rough ground, or to compensate in the slightest degree for bumps and depressions encountered by any individual wheel and tending to disturb the level of the axle which carries said wheel. In other words, in such a prior baby carriage suspension the individual wheels were not permitted to have theiraxles 1 shift relatively to the leaf springs. J

ing in a vertical plane transverse to the vehicle axles. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6'6 of Fig. 5.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

In Fig. 1 isshown a baby-carriage running gear that includes the usual front and rear axles l0 and I I on the ends of which are carried a pair of front wheels I2 and a pair of rear wheels I3, only one front wheel and one rear wheel being shown. The bottom of the carriage body, above the running gear, is indicated by a broken line I4. Any conventional means of support for said body may be employed, the means here shown being a pair of arms I5, I5 connecting each side of the body through the usual shackles I6, I 6 to the curved ends of an elongated leaf spring I I, extending lengthwise of the carriage, two of said springs IT, in parallel relation and overhanging the axles I0 and II at front and rear, being of course provided.

The present invention contemplates the provision of means interposed between the springs. I1 and the axles I0 and II for the purpose-of permitting the axles to "shift relatively to the springs thereby to effect a knee-action movement.

According to this invention the elongated body springs I1, I! instead of 'having their intermediate horizontal portions l8, Itconnectedrigidly front and rear to the axles I0 and II, areso connected to said axles atthe four corners of the running gear as to give these axles a floating and self-leveling action. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, each sprin-gnear its ends (and thus vat each of the four corners of the running gear) carries a depending bracket arm or body-supporting member 20 the top portion of which is secured to thespring I I by means of rivets 2I-, 2l or any other suitable means. Each bracketZO,

'as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is shaped as an inverted L the longer arm of which is disposed substantially at right angles with the horizontal portion [-8 of the spring II. Carried bythelower portion of each of the arms 20, 20 is a cylindrical pliable member 22 of rubber or other-suitable material. Each of the members 22 has bonded to each of its respective face portions 23 and 24 disk members 25 and 26. Projecting outwardly from the central portion of each of the disk members 25 and 26 is a threaded boss 21. :Referring particularly to 'Fig. 3, each of the arms 20, 20 is provided with anaperture 28 whichreceives one of the threaded bossesZ'I and in order --to ciated inner and outer members so that the blocks will be coaxially aligned with each other and will have their common axis disposed in a horizontal plane and crosswise of said axles, and a plate bonded to each end portion of each of said blocks for rigidly securing such end portions to their associated inner or outer members.

2. A running gear for childrens vehicles, comprising in combination, a plurality of body-supporting members secured to underside of the vehicle body, axles extending crosswise beneath the vehicle body for mounting the vehicle wheels, a pair of spaced brackets, adjacent each end of each of said axles, providing legs extending vertically in parallel relation, with one bracket of said pair engaging one end of an axle, and secured thereto, and with the other bracket of said pair attached to a body-supporting member, a rubber block disposed between the parallel legs of said brackets, and plates bonded to the ends of said block and providing aligned studs attached to said bracket legs.

3. A running gear for children's vehicles, comprising in combination, a plurality of body-supporting members secured to underside of the vehicle body, axles extending crosswise beneath the vehicle body for mounting the vehicle wheels, a pair of spaced brackets, adjacent each end of each of said axles, providing legs extending vertically in parallel relation, with one bracket of said pair engaging one end of an axle, and

secured thereto, and with the other bracket of said pair attached to a body-supporting member, a cylindrical rubber block disposed between the parallel legs of said brackets, plates bonded to the ends of said block and aligned studs mounted on said plates and attached to said bracket legs, with the axis of said studs extending centrally of said block, and lying in a horizontal plane ofiset from said axle.

SEVERINE- B. HENDRICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

